Manual XB in ice/snow/blizzard
 

Hey fellow owners. I own a 2011 manual transmission XB with 101k miles. It has been working great so far with no issues.
The only thing is that we're moving from a dry place without snow to a place known for blizzards, for work reasons. Does anyone have experience driving their manual FWD XB in the snow/blizzard/ice especially in the mountains, not just freeways and surface streets in the city?
We have heard multiple people advise us to get an AWD or 4WD with high ground clearance as any 2WD vehicles or even low clearance AWDs will not work in this area.

Thoughts?

Yeah, slight lift would certainly help.

Do you have limited-slip diff on your xB? If so, nothing to worry about.

If not, best to install LSD.
Or get AWD/4WD with LSD in rear+centre diff if possible. Without LSD, AWD/4WD isn't any better.

Also get snow tyres and chains.

If you opt for chains instead of snow tires, install them, jack up the front wheel and rotate the tire to make sure the chains don't rub on the brake lines. Turn the wheel to both extremes to make sure this doesn't happen in all wheel positions. We have a corolla where the chains rubbed on the brake hose. In this case, snow tires are best bet.

Can't comment on a Gen2 but I've got a Gen1 xB and live in the Denver-area, so it's safe to say we see a fair bit of snow. I've got Bridgestone Blizzaks as my winter tires although the fact that they are 17s with very little sidewall probably don't help my cause but I don't have any issues in the snow and slush provided I drive like a sane person. Unlike most of the drivers here in trucks and SUVs who still insist on bombing along at 80 mph down the freeway, some of whom I eventually pass when they've spun into the freeway barrier wall.